Safety inclosed switch



Feb, 3, E925.

C. F. SCHWENNKER SAFETY INCLOSED SWITCH Original Filed March 30 '1922 Inventor: Charles'FTSchwennKen Has Atto Patented Feb. 3, 1925 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFKIE.

CHARLES E. SCHWENNKER, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SAFETY INGLOSED SWITCH.

Original application filed March 30, 1922. Serial No. 548.121.

Divided and this application filed January 5, 1924. Serial No. 684,671.

To all whom z't may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. ScHwENNnrn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Inclosed Switches, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to electric safety or inclosed switches and is a division .of the subject matter of my application enclosure; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the disassembled parts of the interlock, and Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary details. l

The casing or box is made up of heavy sheet steel punchings comprising a. main portion 1 forming the bottom and two sides, an upper detachable end portion 2 with a flange 3 on three sides and adapted to fit down outside the bottom and two sides of the main portion 1, and a lower detachable end portion 4 having a flange on three sides adapted to fit within the bottom and two sides of the main portion. These parts are held together by screws or other retaining means 5. The cover comprises a normally fixed or upper member 6 and a transversely higed lower member or lid 7. Both members have flanges 8 on three sides adapted to overlap the sides and ends of the box, while adjacent the meeting edges of the members body and are assembled by a forward longitudinal movement therein to hook over the lower end walls of said solts 13 and there locked by so arranging the latter relative to the end of the box body that the flange 3 of the upper box end 2 upon being connected to the main box portion engages the adjacent edge of the upper tip 12 and holds itand its companion in depressed position. By means of this pivotal bracket the entire cover may be swung up to full open position without interference between the box side and the adjacent portion of the flange 8. and there arrested by the angular central part of the bracket engaging with the box side as is indicatedin Fig. 1.

The means for fastening the upper cover member in closed position consists of a hasp 14 hinged to the side opposite the pivotal bracket by a lug 15 riveted to the inside of the right-hand flange 8 therefore and provided with a shoulder 16 adapted to engage the inner surface of the hasp and prevent its swinging inwardly sufficiently to enter the box when the cover is being closed. The free end of the hasp is provided with the customary slot 17 for the reception of the lug or staple 18 fixed on the side of the box and adapted to receive a padlock. The lower edge 19 of the hasp is made cam-shape for a purpose to be set forth later. The means for fastening the lower cover member or lid '7 in closed position consists of a pierced lug 20 extending upward from the edge of the lower end 4 of the box and adapted to pass through a slot 21 formed in the free edge of the lid and to receive a seal or other securing means. Near the hinged side of the lid is riveted an extension or heel-plate 22 having a shoulder 23.

The interlocking means whereby the switch is required to be opened before opening of the box lid and also prevented from closing while the lid is out of its closed position comprises arc-shaped keepers 46 and 47 struck up from a sheet metal plate 48 rigidly connected to the inner side of the switch operating crank 40 and adapted to contact with the heel plate 22 of the lid. A stop plate 49 is riveted to the side of the box and has a bearing aperture 50 aligning with the bearing aperture in the box for the reception of the crank shaft 39, arcuate stop flanges 51 and 52 at its upper and lower edges, and its right-hand end bent outwardly to form the staple 18. The arcuate keeper 46 and the stop flange 51 are of the same radius and provided with abrupt ends and so disposed with relation to each other that upon meeting they operate to arrest the crank 40 at the end of its travel in either direction. When the lid is in open position the bent tip 53 of the heel plate stands in the path of the upper end of the keeper 46 and locks the crank 40 in the left or oit position. When the lid is closed the tip 53 of the heel plate is swung up above the path of the keeper 47 and the latter travels beneath it throughout its movement so that the lid is held down thereby whenever the crank is out of its full off position.

In order to prevent the hasp 14 being raised while the crank 40 is out of its full ofi position, the plate 48 is provided with a radial finger 54 which overlies the adjacent cam-shaped edge 19 of the hasp 14 during such positions of the crank.

In order that the cover may be held in fixed relation to the box mouth while closed and thereby to insure the alignment of the hasp 14 with the parts cooperating there with, I provide a notch 15 in the edge of the right-hand side of the box in position to receive therein the lug 15 of the cover.

In order that the switch may be locked in its ofiposition, the arcuate stop flange 52 has a slot 55 adapted to receive one or more padlocks which will extend into the path of swing of a stop shoulder 56 formed on the crank 40.

W hile I have" shown and described the best embodiment of the invention known to me, I do not desire to be restricted thereto.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the Untied States, is

1. In an electric switch, the combination of a metal box, a cover pivotally connected to one side of said box, switch mechanism secured inside said box and provided with an operating handle outside thereof, a hasp secured to the free edge of said cover and adapted to overlie the side of the box adjacent said operating handle, and a finger carried by said handle and overlying said hasp during certain positions of the said handle.

2. In an electric switch, the combination I of a box, a cover pivotally mounted thereon a and provided with a lid hinged thereto, means for locking said cover in closed position, switch mechanism within said box and provided with an operating handle outside said box, a heel extension carried by said lid and extending into proximity of said handle, and means carried by said handle and cooperating with said cover locking means and said heel extension to positively retain the former in locked position and the latter in, closed position while the said handle is out of its full-ofi' position.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of January, 1924.

CHARLES F. SCI-Il/VENNKER. 

